Dispenser for supplying cut lengths of light-sensitive materials



Aug. 16, 1966 HRUBY DISPENSER FOR SUPPLYING CUT LENGTHS OFLIGHT-SENSITIVE MATERIALS Filed Oct. 28, 1964 i'lilillllli llflllllllllllf l i 29 2,2 78 (40 lz w jzfor @5905 Zfi u r I s09. 1W

United States Patent 3,266,689 DISPENSER FOR SUPPLYING tCUT LENGTHS OFLiGHT-SENEilTIVE MATERIALS Joseph Hruby, Deerfield, IlL, assignor toAddressograph- Multigraph Corporation, Charles Eruning Division, MountProspect, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No.407,110 8 Claims. (Cl. 22516) This invention relates to dispensers forlight sensitive materials in roll form and more particularly to improvedcutting means for dispensing varying length of material therefrom.

The advent of a number of copying processes to the reproduction fieldhas made it very convenient to reproduce a wide variety and sizes oforiginals necessary for the daily transaction of business. One of themajor costs in making a reproduction is that of the copy paper orsensitized material on which the copy is made. In todays ofi'ice orbusiness establishment copies are required of different size originalswhich vary greatly from standard 8 /2" x 11" size. In order to maintainthe convenience aspect of these office copying systems economically, ithas been found necessary to supply the user with roll stock of materialto meet the need for copying the wide range in size of originals.

One such copying system involves the technique of photoelectrostaticcopying. In this art the copying material is usually a thin flexibleconductive base, such as paper, plastic or metal upon which is applied aphotoconductive coating comprising photoconductor particles dispersed inin an insulating resin binder. The photoconductor particles usuallyemployed are zinc oxide.

In the photoelectrostatic copying process the photoconductive insulatinglayer is electrostatically charged in the dark. The chargedphotoconductive layer is then exposed to a light image which causes thezinc oxide to become electrically conducting. The charge is dissipatedrapidly from the surface of the photoconductive layer to the conductivebase.

After such exposure, the surface of the photoconductive insulating layeris contacted in the dark with electroscopic particles. These particlesadhere to the areas where the electrostatic charge is retained, thusforming a powder image corresponding to the electrostatic image.

The photoconductive member is therefore a light sensitive material inthe sense that pre-exposure to light of the photoconductive surfaceincreases its conductivity which impairs the ability of the member toaccept an electrostatic charge. It therefore becomes essential toprotect the roll stock of photoconductive material from light byenclosing it in a light protective housing or dispenser.

The surface of the photoconductive member is sensitive to abrasion beingeasily marred and scuffed which prevents imaging the surface in thatarea. Accordingly, the means for dispensing and cutting the roll intovarying lengths must permit the withdrawal of a portion of the rollstock with minimal risk of injury to the working surface.

The paper handling and feeding mechanisms of the known copiers requirethat the individual sheets have uniform smooth edges in order that thepaper may move freely through the machine. The condition of the edge ofthe paper when it is severed from the roll must be sharp and clean,otherwise a ragged or uneven edge will not properly feed through themany rollers and/ or guides that convey the sheet of paper causing it tojam. This is not only a waste of paper but could damage the machine andultimately defeats the efficiency of the copying process.

The problem of properly storing and dispensing light sensitive materialas described above is by no means unique with photoelectrostatic copyingprocesses but is fully applicable to such other light sensitivematerials as diazotype papers. It is to be understood that the presentinvention may be used to advantage with any light sensitive material tobe dispensed from a roll where the condition of the lead edge afterbeing severed from the roll is critical.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a lightprotective dispenser for dispensing varying lengths of light sensitivematerials.

Is is a specific object of this invention to provide a light protectivedispenser for dispensing light sensitive materials without physicallyinjuring or marring the working surface thereof as it is withdrawn fromthe dispenser.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a light protectivedispenser capable of dispensing lengths of light sensitive materials bymanually withdrawing and severing a length using a simple cutting meanswherein said cut edge is of such uniformity and eveness permitting readyhandling and feeding of such sheet into and by the copier apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent by referring to thefollowing detailed discussion and references to the drawings whereinsimilar parts bear the same identifying numeral, in which FIGURE 1 is aplan view of the dispenser showing in partial section the roll mountingand cutting means.

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the dispenser taken through 2-2 of FIGURE1 showing the cutting means in the normal position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the dispenser similar to FIGURE 2 showingthe cutting means in the operative position.

Referring to the figures, the light protective housing identifiedgenerally as 2t) is formed of sheet metal or like material beingsupported on legs 22 and comprising a base portion 24 having a floor 26,a back wall 28 and front wall 29 and left and right hand sidewalls 3tand 31 (FIG. 1). Hingedly mounted to the wall 28 by means of a pianohinge 32 (FIG. 3) is an L shaped cover member 33, with leg portions 34and 36, which enclose the top and front face of said base. At each endof the cover are provided right angle shaped flanges 38 and 4-0depending from inside the cover fitting just inside the walls 30 and 31to form a light tight seal between said movable cover 33 and the sidewalls.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a structural crosspiece or rod 42 is suitablyfastened between the walls 30 and 31 to give the housing rigidity andalso serves as a support for the mounting of the roll of light sensitivematerial 44 (FIG. 2).

The light sensitive material is wound on a tubular core or cylinder aswhose ends are received between a pair of core holders 48 and 50rotatably mounted on shafts 51 and 52, shown in FIGURE 1. The coreholders are pluglike members each having a tapered outside diameter 54rimmed with a short flange 56 and a wedge 57 extending laterally alongthe tapered surface to grip said core. The diameter decreases from beingslightly greater than the inside core diameter at the rim to slightlyless than the core diameter so that the holder is frictionally heldinside the core as it is forced into the end thereof onto the wedge 57until it abuts the rim 56. This manner of mounting the roll stockprevents skewing of the roll and assures its alignment with the cuttingmeans so that the severed sheet will be properly squared off.

The shaft 52 is received through the wall 31 being mounted in a suitablebearing 64. A knob 66 is provided at the end of the shaft which extendsoutside the housing for manually rotating said roll to advance a lengththereof from within the housing. The knob may be suitably fastened tothe shaft end by a threaded fastener such as a set screw 68. Since it isdesired to provide the maximum flexibility in the width of ma- -frontwall 29 of the base.

terial which the dispenser can accommodate, means are provided foradjusting the distance between the core holders. Core holder 48 isrotatably mounted on a laterally adjustable bracket which carries theshaft 51 journaled in a suitable bearing 74 aligning the roll on centerwith the holder 50. One end of the bracket 70 is secured to a sleevebearing 76 which is slidably mounted on the rod 42 permitting adjustingthe distance between the core holders. The other end of the bracket isequipped with a tab 77 which fits into the series of spaced apart slotsor openings 78 punched into the guide plate 80 for selecting and lockingthe bracket 70 in the selected position to accommodate different widthsof roll stock.

Along the rod 42 and situated between the two core holders, a brake 82is provided as shown in FIGURES l and 2. As the roll is unwound, theelement 82 prevents unwinding of the outer laps of the roll and alsoretains the roll in the position to which it is advanced by the knob 66.The braking element 82 includes a frame 84 which is pivotatbly mountedon the rod 42 (FIG. 1), and is urged upwardly by the action of thetensioning spring 88 coiled about the rod 42, one end of which issecured to the bracket and the other end extending through the flooropening 90. Extending to the rear of the bracket 84 is a stop plate 92abutting the back wall 28 so as to prevent the element 82 from beingsnapped against said wall in the circumstance where the roll stock hasbeen removed from between the core holders. At the front end of thebracket 84 there is provided a smooth surfaced roll 94 made of a hardmetal or smooth nylon mounted on a shaft 96 as shown in FIGURE 3. Itwill be noted that the braking element 82 normally takes a generallyhorizontal position so that it engages the roll at approximately wherethe free end of the material tangentially departs from the roll therebymaintaining as much of the outside lap in contact with the roll properas possible.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that the cutting assembly100 is mounted on the U-shaped support 102 having depending legs 103 and104 from the face portion 105, which in turn is secured to the Atopposite ends of the bracket 102, through slightly enlarged holes in theface 105, are disposed a pair of upright posts 106. Between the ends ofthe post is an integrally formed abutment 108 while at the one endextending through the bracket face is threaded a stop nut 110, thecombination acting to restrict the movement of the post through thebracket. Surrounding the post along the length between the abutment 108and the bracket face is a coil spring 112 tending to urge the post intoan upright position. Fitting loosely into the bracket face 105 the postscan independently be tilted at different angles.

The blade 114, with its cutting edge 115, extending past the wall 36, isreceived through openings therein onto the free upper ends 116 of theposts coming to rest on the abutment 108. Alignment of the blade 114 inrelation to the face 105 is readily accomplished by adjusting the stopnuts which raise or lower the post in the bracket 102. A U-shaped highlyresilient member 118 affixed to the bracket leg 104 and extending fullybetween the upright posts 106 provides a fiat platen 119 upon which thewidth of material is supported when being severed.

The platen 119 extends underneath the cutting edge providing an opening122 therebetween through which the paper passes freely without beingmarred or abraded. As shown in FIGURE 2, the cross section of the blade114 is sufiiciently wide so that the cutting edge 115 thereof extendsjust beyond the front face of the cover 36 and in contact therewith. Asthe blade 114 is moved into its cutting position it engages the platen119 which yields somewhat under the pressure thus making full contactwith the cutting edge. A sponge like plastic material 121 fills thespace between the bracket face 105 and the underside of the platen inorder to substantially eliminate light from the housing as the cuttingmeans is moved into and out of its cutting position.

The roll of light-sensitive material 44 is charged into the dispenser byinserting the core holder 50 into one end of the core so that the freeend unwinds from the bottom of the roll. The bracket 70 is laterallyadjusted until the core holder 48 is fully inserted into the other endof the core and locked into place by engaging the tab 77 with theappropriate slot in the guide plate 80. The brake 82 is in continualcontact with the outer surface of the roll. Initially a length isunwound and guided into the opening 122, thereafter the paper isadvanced by turning the knob 66. To sever the length of materialwithdrawn, the cover 33 is pressed down gripping the material along itswidth dimension between the cutting blade 114 and platen surface 119. Bypulling the material against the cutting edge 115 the length is evenlyout leaving a smooth, sharp, non-ragged edge.

It will be appreciated that the cutting assembly and the dispenserdescribed provide a free floating movably mounted cutting blade that hasthe capability of gripping the material everywhere along its width so asto guarantee an even uniform out.

What is claimed is:

1. A light-protective dispenser for storing light-sensitive materials inroll form to be manually cut in varying lengths therefrom comprising ahousing having a base portion and hingedly mounted cover member thereon,means for rotatably receiving said roll within said housing, cuttingmeans mounted on said base movable between a normal position and cuttingposition comprisin g a blade portion and a yieldably mounted platenmember in spaced apart relation with one another, said platen beingurged toward said blade forming a limited access opening therebetweenpermitting the free passage of said length of material when said cuttingmeans is in the normal position while restricting light from enteringthrough said opening, said cover disposed in cooperative associationwith said blade adapted to clamp a narrow transverse segment of thematerial between the blade and platen by the action of pressing down onsaid cover and severing said length by manually pulling the length ofmaterial against said cutting means.

2. A light-sensitive dispenser for supplying varying lengths oflight-sensitive materials from a roll comprising a housing having a baseportion and a cover member hingedly mounted thereon, roll mounting meanscomprising a pair of end roll inserts adapted to receive frictionallytherebetween the ends of said roll, one of said inserts being laterallyadjustable to accommodate different roll Widths, a cutting blade movablymounted on said base portion operable between a normal position and acutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath said blade andbiasing means for maintaining said blade in spaced relation to saidplaten forming an opening for dispensing said lengths from within saidhousing and severing said length by tearing against said blade.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said roll mounting means includes aspring biased braking element which frictionally engages the rollsurface preventing the material from becoming unwound.

4. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of lightsensitive materials from a roll comprising a housing having a baseportion and a cover member hingedly mounted thereon, a cutting blademovably mounted on said base portion operable between a normal positionand a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath said blade,biasing means for urging said blade into said normal position in spacedrelation to said platen providing clearance there-between for freelydispensing said length of material therethrough, a pair of end rollinserts rotatably mounted within said housing for frictionally receivingsaid roll therebetween, knob means \on the outside of said housing formanually turning the roll to advance a length thereof through saidopening, said blade being moved to its cutting position by pressing downon said cover, clamping a portion of the roll therebetween and severingsaid length by pulling it against said blade.

5. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of lightsensitive materials from a roll wound on a tubular core comprising ahousing having a base portion, a cover member hingedly mounted thereon,a cutting blade supported on a pair of upright posts tiltably mounted onsaid base portion, said blade being operable between a normal positionand a cutting position, a resilient cutting platen disposed beneath saidblade, spring 9 means associated with said posts maintaining said bladein spaced relation to said platen providing an opening between saidplaten and said blade to allow for the free passage of the materialtherethrough, moving said blade into its cutting position by pressingdown on said cover clamping said material along its width against saidplaten and severing said length by pulling against said blade.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said cover member is provided withlight shielding means depending from the underside thereof and adaptedto be received just inside the side Walls of said base portion.

7. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of lightsensitive materials from a roll wound on a tubular core comprising ahousing having a base portion, a. cover member hingedly mounted thereon,a cutting blade mounted on said base portion operable between a normalposition and a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath saidblade, spring means for supporting said blade in spaced relation to saidplaten providing an opening therebetween to allow for the free passageof the material therethrongh, a pair of core holders rotatably mountedwithin said housing adapted to be frictionally received in the ends ofsaid core, one of said core holders being laterally adjustable toaccommodate different roll widths, and means operable from outside thehousing for manually advancing a length of material from said rolloperable through said opening, moving said blade to its cutting positionby pressing down on said cover clamping said material against saidplaten evenly along its width and severing said length by pulling upagainst said blade.

8. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of lightsensitive materials from a roll wound on a tubular core comprising ahousing having a base portion, a cover member hingedly mounted thereon,a cutting blade mounted on said base portion operable between a normalposition and a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath saidblade, spring means fior supporting said blade in spaced relation tosaid platen providing an opening therebetween to allow for the freepassage of the material therethrough, a pair of core holders rotatablymounted within said housing adapted to be frictionally received in theends of said core, means operable from outside said housing foradvancing a length of material from said roll through said opening andbrake means acting on the outer surface of said roll preventingunwinding thereof within said housing, moving said blade to its cuttingposition by pressing down on said cover clamping said material againstsaid platen evenly along its width and severing said length by pullingup against said blade.

References Cited by the Examiner WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

J. M. MEISTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LIGHT-PROTECTIVE DISPENSER FOR STORING LIGHT-SENSITIVE MATERIALS INROLL FORM TO BE MANUALLY CUT IN VARYING LENGTHS THEREFROM COMPRISING AHOUSING HAVING A BASE PORTION AND HINGEDLY MOUNTED COVER MEMBR THEREON,MEANS FOR ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID ROLL WITHIN SAID HOUSING, CUTTINGMEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MOVABLE BETWEEN A NORMAL POSITION AND CUTTINGPOSITION COMPRISING A BLADE PORTION AND A YIELDABLY MOUNTED PLATENMEMBER IN SPACED APART RELATION WITH ONE ANOTHER, SAID PLATEN BEINGURGED TOWARD SAID BLADE FORMING A LIMITED ACCESS OPENING THEREBETWEENPERMITTING THE FREE PASSAGE OF SAID LENGTH OF MATERIAL WHEN SAID CUTTINGMEANS IS IN THE NORMAL POSITION WHILE RESTRICTING LINGT FROM ENTERINGTHROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID COVER DISPOSED IN COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONWITH SAID BLADE ADAPTED TO CLAMP A NARROW TRANSVERSE SEGMENT OF THEMATERIAL BETWEEN THE BLADE AND PLANTEN BY THE ACTION OF PRESSING DOWN ONSAID COVER AND SEVERING SAID LENGTH BY MANUALLY PULLING THE LENGTH OFMATERIAL AGAINST SAID CUTTING MEANS.